Maine § 22 §1718-D-1 Prohibition on balance billing for surprise bills and bills for out-of-network emergency services; disputes of bills for uninsured patients and persons covered under self-insured health benefit plans; disclosure related to referrals

Maine Statutes

§ 22 §1718-D-1 — Prohibition on balance billing for surprise bills and bills for out-of-network emergency services; disputes of bills for uninsured patients and persons covered under self-insured health benefit plans; disclosure related to referrals

Maine·Title 22 HEALTH AND WELFARE·Part 4 HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CARE·Ch. 401 GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

2.Prohibition on balance billing. An out-of-network provider reimbursed for a surprise bill or a bill for covered emergency services under Title 24‑A, section 4303‑C or, if there is a dispute, under Title 24‑A, section 4303‑E or a bill for COVID-19 screening and testing under Title 24‑A, section 4320‑P may not bill an enrollee for health care services beyond the applicable coinsurance, copayment, deductible or other out-of-pocket cost expense that would be imposed for the health care services if the services were rendered by a network provider under the enrollee's health plan. For an enrollee subject to coinsurance, the out-of-network provider shall calculate t

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1.
Definitions.
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
2.
Prohibition on balance billing.
An out-of-network provider reimbursed for a surprise bill or a bill for covered emergency services under Title 24‑A, section 4303‑C or, if there is a dispute, under Title 24‑A, section 4303‑E or a bill for COVID-19 screening and testing under Title 24‑A, section 4320‑P may not bill an enrollee for health care services beyond the applicable coinsurance, copayment, deductible or other out-of-pocket cost expense that would be imposed for the health care services if the services were rendered by a network provider under the enrollee's health plan. For an enrollee subject to coinsurance, the out-of-network provider shall calculate the coinsurance amount based on the median network rate for that health care service under the enrollee's health plan. An out-of-network provider is also subject to the following with respect to any overpayment made by an enrollee.
3.
Uninsured patients; disputes of bills.
An uninsured patient who has received a bill for emergency services from a provider for one or more emergency health care services rendered during a single visit totaling $750 or more may dispute the bill and request resolution of the dispute using the process under Title 24‑A, section 4303‑E. The independent dispute resolution entity contracted to resolve the dispute over the surprise bill shall select either the out-of-network provider's fee or the uninsured patient's proposed payment amount in accordance with Title 24‑A, section 4303‑E. An uninsured patient may not be charged by a provider more than the amounts generally billed to a patient who has insurance covering emergency services as determined using the method described in 26 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.501(r)-5, paragraph (b)(3) or (b)(4). A provider shall hold the uninsured patient harmless for the duration of the independent dispute resolution process and may not seek payment until the independent dispute resolution process is completed. Notwithstanding Title 24‑A, section 4303‑E, subsection 1, paragraph F, payment for the independent dispute resolution process is the responsibility of the provider. In the event a claim includes more than one emergency health care service rendered during a single visit, the independent dispute resolution entity may allocate the prorated independent dispute resolution costs at its discretion among providers.
4.
Person covered under self-insured health benefit plan; disputes of surprise bills or bills for covered emergency services rendered by an out-of-network provider.
A person covered under a self-insured health benefit plan that is not subject to the provisions of Title 24‑A, section 4303‑E pursuant to Title 24‑A, section 4303‑E, subsection 2 and who has received a surprise bill for emergency services or a bill for covered emergency services rendered by an out-of-network provider may dispute the bill and request resolution of the dispute using the process under Title 24‑A, section 4303‑E, subsection 1. The independent dispute resolution entity contracted to resolve the dispute over the bill shall select either the out-of-network provider's fee or the covered person's proposed payment amount in accordance with Title 24‑A, section 4303‑E, subsection 1. This subsection does not apply to a person covered under a self-insured health benefit plan who knowingly elected to obtain the services from an out-of-network provider.
5.
(REALLOCATED FROM T. 22, §1718-D, sub-§3) Referral to an out-of-network provider.
A provider receiving a nonemergency referral or self-referral for any in-person health care service or procedure shall disclose to the enrollee whether that provider to whom the enrollee is being referred is a member of the provider network under the enrollee's health plan before the enrollee schedules the appointment for that service or procedure.

Maine § 22 §1718-D-1 (Prohibition on balance billing for surprise bills and bills for out-of-network emergency services; disputes of bills for uninsured patients and persons covered under self-insured health benefit plans; disclosure related to referrals) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Legislative History

PL 2017, c. 218, §1 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 218, §3 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 668, §1 (AMD). RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. A, §§24, 25 (COR). PL 2019, c. 670, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 28, Pt. A, §1 (AMD).